Travel tips · Mendoza · Argentina
Mendoza travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Silviaanac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mendoza is relaxed and outdoorsy, shaped by wine, irrigation and the mountains. The day follows a siesta rhythm, with quiet afternoons and busy evenings, and social life revolves around long meals, asados and sharing mate.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- ARS
- Plugs
- Type C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in the city is treated and widely drunk by locals; bottled water is…
- Emergency
- 911
Plan a trip to Mendoza
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Things to know
- Greet people with 'buen día' or 'buenas tardes'; friends greet with a single kiss on the cheek.
- If offered mate, drink the whole gourd and hand it back; saying 'gracias' means you do not want another round.
- Do not step into or dump rubbish in the acequias, the open irrigation channels along the streets.
- Expect a slower pace at lunch and in the afternoon, when many shops close.
- At wineries, spitting during tastings is accepted and spittoons are provided.
- Book Luján de Cuyo wineries ahead: Tours and lunches at most Luján wineries require reservations, often several days ahead in March and April.
- Book Maipú wineries by bike ahead: Some wineries take visitors only by reservation; book tastings a day or two ahead, especially at weekends.
- Argentine prices change quickly with inflation; check current rates and compare paying by card with paying in cash.
Tipping
Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service, in cash if possible. Tips are welcome for winery guides and tour drivers but not expected in taxis.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buen día | Good morning |
| ¿Me trae la cuenta? | Could you bring the bill? |
| Un vino tinto, por favor | A red wine, please |
| Bodega | Winery |
| Che | Hey (informal, used constantly) |
What to wear
Dress is casual. Pack sun protection all year and warm layers for evenings, winter and any trip into the Andes, where temperatures fall sharply with altitude.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water in the city is treated and widely drunk by locals; bottled water is sold everywhere if you prefer it.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Phone and internet
- Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, cafés and most wineries; local SIMs and eSIMs give good coverage in the city, but signal is patchy in the high mountains.
- Time zone
- America/Argentina/Mendoza
Mendoza is generally calm, but bag-snatching and phone theft happen in the centre and around the bus terminal, so keep valuables discreet. In the Andes, altitude, sun and sudden weather changes are the main risks; drink water and carry warm layers.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Argentina's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Mendoza?
Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service, in cash if possible. Tips are welcome for winery guides and tour drivers but not expected in taxis.
+Can you drink the tap water in Mendoza?
Tap water in the city is treated and widely drunk by locals; bottled water is sold everywhere if you prefer it.
+What plugs are used in Mendoza?
Type C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Mendoza?
Spanish.